Have you ever wanted to exact revenge upon someone? What if you were dead? Would you still want revenge? Velveteen, by Daniel Marks, is a dark revenge fantasy written for those twelve years and older.
Purgatory is defined as a place of temporary suffering or punishment for the souls of the dead. What if there is a purgatory? Think of the things that could happen in a place made up of dead souls where a community has been set up, and where each soul has a job to perform.
Life seems to go on there much as it does on earth, except one is dead. Instead of earthquakes, there are shadowquakes – the ground shakes and residents run in terror. Not only does the ground shake, but big tentacled arms reach in to grab. It is like a gigantic octopus or squid or some other gigantic sea monster is terrorizing them and reminding them just who is in charge. What could it possibly do people who are already dead? This monster doesn't kill them. It doesn't eat them. What it does to them is something much, much worse.
The inhabitants of purgatory don't know if there is a heaven or hell. They only know that when and if they are done there, their souls go elsewhere, and they will continue to exist.
Purgatory has buildings, and the souls interact with each other. They still have emotions and feelings. When they arrive, they are assigned to a work force. Velveteen, the main character, is part of the salvage crew. She was kidnapped and brutally murdered by Bonesaw when she was sixteen- years-old. Of course, she wants revenge for what he did to her and for what he continues to do to other girls. The dead can be filled with just as much rage as the living.
But the souls in purgatory are not allowed to haunt. If any of the souls are found to be doing this, their lights will not be allowed to dim, and they will be stuck in purgatory for all of eternity. They are only allowed to return to earth if it has to do with their work. Velveteen has found a way to sneak out, though. She is watching Bonesaw and just waiting for a way to cause him to commit suicide. She is haunting him.
But there is so much more going on in purgatory. You think that you have situations here on earth? Well, there is just as much drama in purgatory for Velveteen.
There are revolutionaries who are banding together. Their purpose is to unleash all the inhabitants of purgatory on earth so they can possess the bodies of the living. The results of this would not be so good.
And Velveteen, who has determined not to fall in love, has to train Nick, an irresistibly cute guy who is desperately in love with her, to be part of her salvage team. Oh, and she isn't allowed to become romantically involved with any of her co-workers. Yeah, there is romance in purgatory too.
Whether you believe purgatory exists or not, it is hard not to be drawn into what is going on with Velveteen. The characters are developed so well that the story, even though you know it is fiction, is believable.
I was given a copy of this book free of charge by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you would like a copy of this book to read for your own enjoyment, I have provided an Amazon link for you below.
